With a green light from the City of Vancouver, West Blvd Cannabis is set to open a culinary cannabis facility licensed for on-site processing and product testing in Mount Pleasant.
After receiving its micro-processing and R&D licences from Health Canada in December, it started to craft “forward-thinking” consumer brands using its state-of-the-art kitchen, the company said in a recent statement.
According to the West Blvd, the new facility will host educational events, as well as facilitate private-label manufacturing, packaging and labelling new infused products for Canadian cannabis brands.
The micro-processing facility is the first-of-its-kind to be approved in Vancouver, and the firm hopes it will build walk-by brand exposure while establishing relationships with the surrounding community.
“Our research and development licence allows us to conduct unique R&D initiatives, such as palatability tests, which gives us the ability to provide sensory testing (including taste, smell, sight and touch) amongst a controlled focus group to better understand consumer preferences surrounding edible and ingestible cannabis products,” CEO Connor McNamee tells Mugglehead by email.
(Left to right) Chief operations officer Brad Quevillon, director of product Cayli Weinberg, CEO Connor McNamee and chief marketing officer Nico Sto Tomas. Photo via West Blvd Cannabis
“This is a great opportunity to research, develop and market our own data-driven consumer products, while also serving as a space for inter-industry collaborations with local brands and growers.”
McNamee says the sensory testing provides an opportunity to refine the edible formulations before launching to the market. His founding team comes from a background in the food world, from restaurants to event hosting.
“Our goal is to provide forward-thinking solutions that are both functional in today’s market, and that inspire future products as regulations ease,” he explains.
“Cannabis still has a long way to go to reach a mature market, and we hope to provide the needed innovation as a craft company to push regulations forwards.”
West Blvd expects the facility will create collaborations with other companies to conduct on-site market research for product validation by surveying consumers and stakeholders.
Another round of company funding will start early February, to launch in-house brands, ramp up sales and build up retail distribution in Western provinces.
Read more: Vancouver slashing annual cannabis licence fees by 60% in 2022
Read more: Niagara College studying and developing edibles with industry partners
West Blvd’s first brand is Choklit Park, which will feature dried flower and concentrate products made by local British Columbia growers.
The facility will allow visitors to try different edible products on-site, West Blvd says. Submitted photo
Initial product launches are slated for this spring and summer, along with high-end merch.
A second brand of culinary cannabis infusions that will include THC and CBD cooking oils, teas and gummies are currently in research and development, and slated for a summer launch.
Welcome to Choklit Park.
Built at the end of the summer in 1970, the legendary park soon became a huge draw for cannabis enthusiasts from many parts of Vancouver, BC.
Join along for a funky ride. #ChoklitPark #Cannabisindustry pic.twitter.com/WeZKmKA3l8— Choklit Park (@ChoklitPark) January 20, 2022
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